preferred sight style

[checkmyswag]

or at a minimum had a sharpie taken to the dots to black them out.

Nice, didn't think about doing that, could black out the rear sights, might experiment with some electrical tape on them first

 

[9mmepiphany]

I think you'll find the sharpie works better that the tape...the edges of the tape will be distracting. I find a sharpie a good field fix...a quick fix on the range when you want to introduce someone to how much difference in speed and clarity the removal of rear dots/outlines make.

If you are doing it at home, I find it easier to use model paint...either water or oil based will work. I just blacked out the rear nightsights on my EMP a couple of weeks ago and it is holding up to use well. If you don't like it, you can just remove the paint with a solvent

 

[checkmyswag]

Very good idea.

I was all ready to get some Trijicon HDs but this might give me most of the results of new sights with none of the cost.

I'm mostly interested in self defense and IDPA shooting so I need a quick sight, not a precision sight.

Does the model paint hold up?

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've only shot 4 IDPA matches with it, but it seems to be pretty stable...building up the front dot was a bigger challenge

 

[MoreIsLess]

I have a Springfield 1911 with black sights on the front and back. I love the sights on it but sometimes I have trouble seeing front one. I thought I read on here that you can paint white out on the front sight and it will come off easily if you decide you don't like it, sell the gun, etc. Is that true?

 

[basicblur]

I thought I read on here that you can paint white out on the front sight and it will come off easily if you decide you don't like it, sell the gun, etc. Is that true?

No experience with any of this, but I've heard a number of folks claim White Out was tough to remove - they say steer clear of it.

Never tried this, but I've slugged through quite a few YouTube videos on highlighting engravings etc, and thought this guy seems to be the most detailed / researched?

I've got all the stuff he recommends, but have yet to try it - I'm thinking 'bout highlighting some of the engraving on some of my magazines - it sure would make it a lot easier to grab the right mags outta my box o' magazines. Some of 'em are darn difficult to read / look an awful lot alike.

For less permanent / experimental / more easily removed, he recommends (quite a few folks seem to):
1. Nail polish.
2. Acetone Free nail polish remover.

 

[hariph creek]

I like XS Big Dot. But I only like tritium up front, prefer the plain white line on the rear.
They're fast and plenty accurate for SD.
I don't own any target guns. If I had target sights I'd have to admit it's me, and not the sights that limit me to "combat accuracy."

 

[checkmyswag]

building up the front dot was a bigger challenge

You built it up with more white paint or another color?

 

[9mmepiphany]

I did mine in yellow...Tamiya Insignia Yellow to be exact

 

[1SOW]

9mmepiphany:

I prefer a single dot on the front blade...either fiber optic, bead or nightsight lamp...mated to a plain black rear blade with a notch that lets plenty of light in on either side of the front blade (I prefer that the bottom of the notch be rounded rather than square). The front dot isn't used as a sighting point, it is just help the eye pickup the front blade sooner. Any dot on the rear sight just slows down the perception of the sights being aligned

X10, for speed. Front sight, front sight, front sight.
As he said, distractions on the rear sight just slow me down. A simple fiber optic front is "faster" for me. I'm getting a little long in the tooth and the eyes aren't what they used to be.
One exception that does 'okay' for me, is a "dot-the-I" Sig sight. The small rear white verticle bar doesn't seem get in the way of seeing the front white dot. I still prefer a large plate black rear and F.O. front for quick follow-on and target transition shots.